The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-01
THE NEW PHoNoeRAPH.
What Mr.. Edison Claims for His Recon-
structed ssTaIkIng Machine.n

structed "TaIking Machine"
The statement that Mr.. Edison has
perfected his monograph and given il
practical value is not so startling as the
/ invention itself was when originally
produced. some ten years since. With
telephones, electric lights and electric
railways, we are becoming accustomed
to departures from tradition. and new
invention must be very remarkable in
deed to excite any more than momen-
! tary surprise. We are not quite sure
that the public would be much stirred
from its customary equanimity if the
Keely motor were shown to working
practicability, though this, we confess.
would be a pretty strong test of the
theory suggested.
But whether startling or not, the
prospect of a working phonograph is q
very pleasing one. Every body viii re-
member what hopes of usefulness were
built upon the invention when first
brought out, and how those hopes were
crushed when the inventor announced
that it would never have any value save
as toy. Now the inventor ASSURE the
world that in its improved form the
toy will do all that was once hoped
from it and much more. The man of
business will no longer need stenog-
rapher or typewriter, but will be able
TO dictate directly to his photograph
sending the impressions therein pro-
1uced to his distant correspondent, who
will reproduce them in his own instru-
ment- Copy" for the printer will be
prepared in the same way. The testi-
nony of witnesses will be so perpetu-
lted that on subsequent trials or hear
ngs it can not only be reproduced with
absolute accuracy i'll its minutcst de-
;ails, but with all those individual
characteristics of hesitancy. frmness,
ETC.. which count for so much in esti-
mating the value Of testimony.
Music is to be the stronghold of tn e
reconstructed photograph as it was of
the toy" Not only will it reproduce
the human voice in its melodic or har-
monte efforts. but instrumental music
Of every kind. 1t will 90 so far, indeed,
as to reproduce orchestral effects in
such manner that the critical ear can
detect all the different instruments as
readily rs in listening to the orchestra
itself. 1t is said, moreover, that one
who is an adept in such matters can
tell from the photographic reproduce
ton what make of piano was used in
the orchestra. And as the Photographic
sheets can be duplicated rapidly and
chcaply it will cost the owner of Il pho
nograph practically nothing to hear
opera, operate concerts, or the playing
of the great violinist or pianists. The
effect may be bad on the opera houses,
but the public at large will be greatly
benefited and proEted.
Naturally there will be rs soon az
the new monograph comes on the
market revival of the food of comic
suggestions with which the invention
was originally greeted. We shall be
told how useful the jealous husband or
wife can make it and now valuable ii
will prove in breach of promise cases,
where the reproduction of tones is al
most as desirable as of words. But the
inventor can stand a good deal of this
sort of fun -chestnutty though it is-ii
his invention is what he now declares
it to be.-Detrot Free Press.